Florida right-hander Ben Specht returned to the mound as head coach Kevin O’Sullivan retreated to the dugout. It was the bottom of the ninth, and Specht had just given up a two-run home run to Abraham Sequera.
A comeback was looming, and it was a feeling the Gators are too familiar with just four games into the season. But the floodgates would not open for the Ospreys.
Opening weekend’s story was subpar pitching, defensive mishaps and a strong offense for the Gators. Tuesday night’s showdown against UNF told a similar story — with a different result. The Gators managed to hold off the comeback to take down the Ospreys 9-6 in the first of two games against North Florida.
Garrett Milchin kicked things off on the mound in his first appearance in a real game since the College World Series tournament in 2017. He had a solid showing and ended his night with three hits, three strikeouts and no earned runs over two innings pitched.
Jordan Butler relieved Milchin of his duties in the third inning. Butler ran into some trouble in the fifth inning and gave up a solo shot to Sequera that easily sailed over the left-field wall for the Osprey’s second run. A double, a steal and a sacrifice fly put another UNF run on the board before the fifth inning came to an end.
Specht looked strong through his first three innings of work and gave up no runs. As the bottom of the ninth inning arrived, so did pitching drama that has come to be associated with the Gators so early in the season.
Specht gave up a triple early in the inning that knocked in a run. Then, the right-hander gave up the two-run homer to Sequera, putting the Ospreys within three runs of the Gators lead.
Specht managed to escape and finished his night with no more damage to earn the save. He ended with four hits and three earned runs through four innings of relief.
The offense continues to be a bright light early in the 2021 season.
Jacob Young extended his hit streak to 22 games and 634 days, earning himself a single in his first at-bat. The left-fielder also knocked in two runs with a double in the seventh inning. He went 3-6 during the night.
Freshman infielder Colby Halter also had himself a night at the plate. Halter went 3-5, highlighted by a bases-clearing triple and four RBIs.
Butler, who started the game as the designated hitter, reached base on nearly every at-bat. His sacrifice fly to left field gave the Gators their first run of the game.
Jud Fabian had more hits in Tuesday’s game than in the entire weekend series against Miami. He went 2-6 and drove in a run in the top of the ninth inning with a single to right field.
Third baseman Kirby McMullen exited the game in the bottom of the fifth inning. An Osprey baserunner attempting to steal third base slid into McMullen’s leg. A trainer was called out and McMullen left the game, walking on his own.
While the bottom of the ninth was a near repeat nightmare for the Gators, they managed to take game one against UNF with a final score of 9-6.
The Gators will face off against the Ospreys again at home Wednesday.
Contact Sara Kate Dyson at skatedyson@alligator.org or follow her on Twitter at @sarakatedyson
